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1 See section 20 “Part D Exclusions” within chapter 6 (Rev. 10, 02-19-10) of the Pub. 100-18 Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Manual. Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services. September 26, 2008. http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Prescription-Drug-Coverage/PrescriptionDrugCovContra/Downloads/Chapter6.pdf. Last accessed November 11, 2013. Some state pharmaceutical assistance programs offer assistance with regard to Medicare Part D excluded drugs.2 “Each category or class must include at least two drugs (unless only one drug is available for a particular category or class, or only two drugs are available but one drug is clinically superior to the other for a particular category or class), regardless of the classification system that is utilized. The two drug minimum requirement must be met through the provision of two chemically distinct drugs.” “30.2.1 - Formulary Categories and Classes” within chapter 6 (Rev. 10, 02-19-10) of the Pub. 100-18 Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Manual. There are exceptions to the two drug minimum in cases where “unless only one drug is available for a particular category or class, or only two drugs are available but one drug is clinically superior to the other for a particular category or class.” Medicare also requires that all, or substantially all, of the drugs in the following 6 drug classes to be covered: Antidepressant medications, antipsychotic drug medications, anticonvulsant medications, antineoplastic drugs (used by cancer patients), immunosuppressant (used by transplant patients), and antiretroviral (used by patients with HIV).3 The “catastrophic coverage” protection within the Medicare Part D program only applies to on-formulary medications for an enrollee within a Medicare drug plan. See “Understanding True Out-of-Pocket (TrOOP) Costs.” http://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/Partnerships/downloads/11223-P.pdf. Last accessed December 3, 2013.4 http://www.drugs.com/stats/top100/sales. Last accessed December 3, 2013. Drug sales are for all of the U.S. regardless of Medicare enrollment.5 Some medications treat multiple conditions.6 “Biologics for Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment” http://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/guide/biologics. Last accessed December 3, 2013.